KABUL - Training, equipping and financing Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will cost much less than it does to maintain the foreign soldiers in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai said Saturday in separate interviews with German media.
In his interview with both RTL and ZDF German TV stations, Karzai said as foreign forces leave Afghanistan, they are saving money, some of which could be invested back into the Afghan security forces.
"With completion of security transition, the expenses of international in Afghanistan decrease, they could invest some of it on Afghan security forces," a statement from his office quoted him as saying.
Karzai also said in the interview that Afghanistan's demand from the Chicago summit is to ensure Afghanistan does not fall back into its previous state.
"Our demand from Chicago summit is clear: Achievements of the past decade be preserved and further solidified," Karzai said.
The statement published by Karzai's office on his interviews with the German media, also said he stressed that the anti-terror campaign should not cost the life of innocent Afghans.
Asked about the status of peace negotiations with Taliban, Karzai replied that those Taliban who have not harmed Afghan people are welcome to join peace process.
"We welcome the Taliban who have not harmed the Afghans and are ready to join the peace process. But those who kill innocent people, torch schools, and commit other crimes should apologies to the people before joining the peace drive," he said.
Asked about the safety of Afghan civilians in military operations, Karzai said that civilian casualties were a key point of contention between Afghanistan and the US.
"We are in talks with the US officials in this regard," he said.
"We have several issues in our relations with the United States, apart from civilian casualties, private security companies and some other issues have strained our relations," he added.
Karzai was optimistic that Pakistan would help the ongoing peace process, acknowledging that it had already taken some steps in this regard. He hoped Pakistan would do more to help stabilize Afghanistan.
More than 60 nations and international organizations are attending NATO's summit from Sunday to Monday in the US.
On the margins of the two-day summit, which is expected to set the course for NATO's future engagement in Afghanistan, Karzai will meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on bilateral issues, especially peace and security in the region. (Tolo News)